But that's not the only reason why the German solar industry is currently experiencing a new boom after its collapse a good ten years ago.
Technological progress, automated manufacturing processes and short delivery routes make production in Europe competitive again.
The big advantage in the past: solar power is now unrivaled in terms of price.
For his story about the new solar boom in Germany, my colleague Philip Bethge visited a family in Hamburg who had re-covered the roof of their semi-detached house from 1929 with solar tiles.
Plastic film as a solar cell
At the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Freiburg, he was explained how solar cells made of different semiconductor materials can be stacked on top of one another, with each individual layer being able to use a different part of the solar spectrum.
In this way, the researchers can convert up to 46 percent of the energy in sunlight into electricity in the laboratory - twice as much as with conventional solar modules.
In Dresden, Philip visited the company Heliatek, which produces a bluish shimmering plastic film: a solar cell, less than two millimeters thick, self-adhesive, light, rollable, flexible.
Around 54 gigawatts of solar power are currently installed in Germany.
This means that solar systems cover around nine percent of the electricity requirement.
Experts estimate that it should be 300 to 450 gigawatts by 2040, an increase of around 20 gigawatts per year.
Philip paints a picture of a future in which every facade, every car roof, parking lot, noise barrier, and even rail tracks produce energy.
It's a sunny future - and a really exciting text!
Heartfelt
Your Veronika Hackenbroch
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Like black snow
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(Feedback & suggestions?)